Mike Hezemans

Mike Hezemans (born 25 July 1969) is a Dutch racing driver who last competed for Marc VDS Racing Team in the Blancpain Endurance Series.

Hezemans is a two-time winner of the Spa 24 Hours, a three-time winner of the 24 Hours of Zolder and a race winner in the FIA GT Championship, in which he was runner-up in points four times.

Career Hezemans began karting in 1981, most notably finishing third in the Karting World Championship and runner-up in the Karting European Championship in 1989 before stepping up to car-racing the year after by racing in the Dutch Production Car Championship.

After spending four years between Porsche Carrera Cup Germany and Porsche Supercup, which included a podium at the 1991 24 Hours of Spa, Hezemans joined Lotus Racing Team for the 1996 BPR Global GT Series. Continuing with Lotus Racing for 1997, Hezemans competed in the FIA GT Championship and the 24 Hours of Le Mans in the GT1 class.

In 1998, Hezemans returned to the GT1 class of the FIA GT Championship for a part-time schedule with Team Hezemans, before switching to the GT2 class and Roock Racing for the second half, during which he scored a podium in the season-ending race at Laguna Seca.

Following his third season in the FIA GT Championship in 1999 where he only scored four points, Hezemans joined his father Toine's Carsport Holland team for the following year. After taking his maiden series win at Monza, Hezemans won again at the A1-Ring and Brno to end the season runner-up in points.

Hezemans remained with Carsport Holland for 2001, this time partnering Jeroen Bleekemolen. The pair won at the Hungaroring and Estoril on their way to runner-up honors in the GT standings. Partnering up with Anthony Kumpen for 2002, the pair won the second-to-last race at Donington Park as they finished sixth in points. During 2002, Hezemans took the first of three consecutive 24 Hours of Zolder wins.

After podium-less stints with Force One Racing Festina and GPC Giesse Squadra Corse, Hezemans returned to GLPK-Carsport for 2005 alongside Bert Longin and Anthony Kumpen. The trio won at Imola and the third-to-last round at Zhuhai en route to a sixth place in points at season's end. The trio was retained by GLPK-Carsport for 2006, but were only able to muster a win at Le Castellet and four more podiums to finish the season seventh in the GT1 standings.

Staying with Carsport Holland for 2007, Hezemans was partnered by Jean-Denis Délétraz while also being joined by Marcel Fässler and Fabrizio Gollin for the Spa 24 Hours, which they won, helping them to finish third in the GT1 points. Gollin then became Hezemans' full-time teammate for the 2008 season as Carsport Holland strengthened their partnership with Phoenix Racing. The duo scored a lone win in Adria and ended the season runner-up in points.

Hezemans initially signed with Racing Box to race in the 24 Hours of Le Mans for 2009, but after said deal broke down, Hezemans returned to the FIA GT Championship, joining PekaRacing nv alongside Anthony Kumpen. The duo took their first win of the season in Oschersleben, before winning the 24 Hours of Spa on their way to runner-up in the GT1 points.

Staying in the newly-rebranded FIA GT1 World Championship for 2010, Hezemans joined Phoenix Racing / Carsport. Splitting the season with Mad-Croc Racing, Hezemans scored only one podium during the season, a third at the 24 Hours of Spa.

Hezemans remained in the FIA GT1 World Championship, joining Exim Bank Team China alongside Nicky Catsburg. After taking his first podium at Zolder, Hezemans took pole at Silverstone, before finishing third in both races. During 2011, Hezemans made a one-off appearance in the Blancpain Endurance Series for KRK Racing Team Holland.

In 2012, Hezemans returned to the Blancpain Endurance Series, joining Marc VDS Racing Team alongside Bert Longin and Henri Moser. After scoring his season-best result of sixth at Le Castellet, Hezemans left the team before the season-ending round in Navarra and was replaced by Nicky Catsburg.

Personal life Hezemans is the son of 1970 European Touring Car Championship champion Toine Hezemans, and is the brother of NASCAR Whelen Euro Series drivers Loris and Liam Hezemans.

Hezemans is the co-owner of Norwyn Development Group, and lives in Miami, Florida.

Karting record Karting career summary

Complete FIA GT Championship results (key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)

Complete 24 Hours of Le Mans results Year Team Co-Drivers Car Class Laps GT1 Lotus Racing Jan Lammers Alexander Grau Lotus Elise GT1 GT1 121 DNF DNF Team Carsport Holland Racing Box Anthony Kumpen Gabriele Matteuzzi Chrysler Viper GTS-R GTS 93 DNF DNF Carsport America Anthony Kumpen David Hart Pagani Zonda GR GTS 10 DNF DNF Barron Connor Racing Jean-Denis Delétraz Ange Barde Ferrari 575-GTC GTS 200 DNF DNF 2006 Spyker Squadron b.v. Jeroen Bleekemolen Jonny Kane Spyker C8 Spyder GT2-R GT2 202 DNF DNF 2007 Spyker Squadron Jaroslav Janiš Jonny Kane Spyker C8 Spyder GT2-R GT2 70 DNF DNF 2008 IPB Spartak Racing Reiter Engineering Peter Kox Roman Rusinov Lamborghini Murciélago R-GT GT1 266 NC NC

Complete European Le Mans Series results (key) (Races in bold indicate pole position; results in italics indicate fastest lap)

Complete FIA GT1 World Championship results (key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)

Complete GT World Challenge Europe results GT World Challenge Europe Endurance Cup (key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)